



















































































































te; ~PE my 

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COPYRIGHT DEPObrr, 







The Little St 


ory 



ouse 


by 

MIRIAM E. MASON 

w 


with illustrations by 


EI.FREDA BURNS 



BECKLEYCARDY COMPANY 

CHICAGO 




PEn\i 


Copyright, 1935, by 

Beckley-Cardy Company 

All rights reserved 


Printed in the Uniled Stales of A merica 

FEB-21 1935 
CCl A 79766 



Page 


Bright Morning. 7 

Little Boy Gene Runs Away. 13 

The Squash Tree. 23 

Wee Peterkin. 33 

Dame Dot’s Sunday Dinner. 40 

The Little Dog That Wanted a Green Tail .... 52 

A Queer Birthday Party. 64 

How Little Raindrop Helped. 71 

The Selfish Little Tree. 77 

The Pumpkin That Laughed. 81 

The Fairy’s Thanksgiving Visit. 89 

Miss Perkins and the Potatoes. 101 

Jack Frost. 112 

Polly Ann’s Pumpkins. 124 

The Currant Bun. 131 

The Old Woman Who Went Up in a Basket. . . 141 
The Dinner Party. 149 


3 


























To My Own Little Girl Kitsy 



The Little Story House 

Come, small girl, and wee lad, too. 
This story house was built for you. 
In its friendly rooms you'll find 
Tales of many a pleasant kind. 
Tales and rhymes and pictures, too. 
And they are every one for you. 


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6 























































Bright Morning 

It was morning. 

Birds were singing. 

The sun came in through 

Little Boy Gene’s window. 

"Bright morning,” said the sun. 

"Time to get up and begin 
to have fun.” 

Little Boy Gene slept on. 

Dandelion, the yellow cat, 

jumped upon the window sill. 

"Bright morning,” 

said the pussy cat. 

"I’ve been up for an hour, 
just think about that!” 

Little Boy Gene slept on. 



A bird looked in through 

Little Boy Gene’s window. 
"Bright morning,” he sang 
in his cheerful way. 

"Time to get up and begin 
to play.” 

Little Boy Gene slept on. 

Laddie, the dog, knocked 

at the window with his tail. 

8 













"Bright morning,” said Laddie, 
"bright morning, bright day! 

Why don’t you come out 

in the morning and play?” 

Little Boy Gene slept on. 

At last Little Boy Gene 
opened his eyes. 

He smelled something. 

It smelled like pancakes. 

He heard something. 

It sounded like pancakes frying 
in a pan, "S-s-s-s-s-s!” 

"Bright morning!” 

said Little Boy Gene. 

Little Boy Gene liked pancakes 
better than anything. 


He got up in a hurry. 

He ran to the bathroom. 

"Water, come! Sleep, run!” 
said Little Boy Gene. 

He washed his face and hands 
with good cold water. 

He brushed his teeth 

with the good water, too. 

He put on his clothes 

and ran downstairs in a hurry. 

He ran into the kitchen. 

And there was his mother 

and there was his breakfast! 

There was his cup 

and there was his plate. 

His glass of milk was there, too. 

10 



"Here is my Little Boy Gene,” 
said his mother. 

"And he is just in time 
to have pancakes 
this bright morning.” 

There were the pancakes, 
ready to eat. 

They were golden yellow, too, 
like the sunshine. 


ii 







"Just in time,” said the sun. 
"And I waked him up!” 

"Just in time,” said Dandelion, 
"And I waked him up!” 

"Just in time,” sang the bird. 
"And I waked him up!” 

"Just in time,” said Laddie. 
"And I waked him up!” 

Little Boy Gene sat down 

and began to eat pancakes 
with butter and honey. 
"Isn’t it fine,” he said, 

"that I waked myself up 

early this bright morning?” 

12 



Little Boy Gene Runs Away 

Little Boy Gene said, 

"I am going to run away. 

I am tired of living in this house. 

I am tired of having to wash 

my face and hands every day. 
I am tired of having to pick up 
my playthings. 

I am going to run away.” 

13 





























So Little Boy Gene climbed into 
his red automobile. 

It was a fine automobile. 

Uncle Dick had given it to him 
for his birthday. 

"Good-by, Laddie,” 

said Little Boy Gene to the dog. 

"I am going to run away.” 

Laddie said, 

"Bow-wow-wow! 

Tell me how.” 

"In my little red automobile,” 
said Little Boy Gene. 

"I shall go so fast that no one 
can catch me.” 


14 


Little Boy Gene rode down the walk. 
He met the yellow pussy cat 
chasing a butterfly. 

''Good-by, Dandelion,” 

said Little Boy Gene to the cat. 
”1 am going to run away.” 

Dandelion said, 

"Mew, mew, mew! 

Let me go, too.” 

"You can not go,” 

said Little Boy Gene. 

"You are only a pussy cat. 

You would be afraid. 

But I am a big, brave boy. 

I am not afraid of anything.” 

15 


So Little Boy Gene rode very fast 
down the street. 

"This is lots of fun,” he said. 

"How glad I am 

that I am running away! 

I shall never wash my face 
or my hands again. 

I shall never pick up 
my playthings again. 

I shall never eat bread and milk 
again.” 

Little Boy Gene rode and rode. 

He came to the end of the street. 

He came to a green field. 

There was a pretty pond in the field. 

Little Boy Gene climbed out 
of his red automobile. 


16 



He took off his shoes and stockings. 
"Here is where I shall have fun,” 
said Little Boy Gene. 

He played in the water. 

He played that he was a ship. 

He played that he was a fish. 

He waded and splashed. 

It was lots of fun. 


17 












Soon Little Boy Gene heard a noise. 
He saw four big, white things 
running across the field. 

They had big wings and long necks. 
They had long, yellow bills. 

They had big, yellow feet. 

They were geese, but Little Boy Gene 
did not know this. 

''Who are you?” said Little Boy Gene. 
The great big, white geese 
looked at the little boy. 

Their long necks grew longer. 

Their big wings grew bigger. 

They opened their long yellow bills. 
They said, "Honk, honk, honk!” 
Little Boy Gene climbed into his car. 

"It’s time for me to go,” he said. 

18 



19 

































The big white geese 
ran after him. 

They opened their long bills 
and made a hissing noise. 

Little Boy Gene pushed hard 
on his automobile. 

His hat fell off. 

He did not stop to pick it up. 

He rode fast out of the field. 

He rode fast up the street. 

The four big white geese 
went back to the pond, 
hissing and honking. 

Little Boy Gene came to his home. 

Dandelion was chasing a butterfly. 

Laddie was asleep under a bush. 

Little Boy Gene was glad to see them. 

20 


He went in to see his mother. 

She was baking some cookies. 

"Well, well, here you are!” 
said his mother. 

"You look as though you were 
hungry.” 

"May I have a cooky?” 
asked Little Boy Gene. 

He washed his face and hands. 

His mother gave him 
three big cookies 
and a glass of milk. 

Little Boy Gene took a great 
big bite of cooky. 

Little Boy Gene was glad 
to be home. 


21 


Now You Tell Me 

What was the name of the pussy cat? 

Who was Laddie? 

Who helped to wake Little Boy Gene 
one sunny morning? 

What did Little Boy Gene like to eat 
better than anything else? 

What did Little Boy Gene get 
for his birthday? 

Why did Little Boy Gene run away? 

Where did Little Boy Gene play? 

What ran after Little Boy Gene? 

What was his mother doing 
when he came back home? 

What wakes you up in the morning? 

Did you ever try to run away? 

22 


The Squash Tree 

Once there was a poor woman 

who lived in a little brown house 
at the bottom of a big green hill. 

She had five little children. 

One day there was nothing 

in the house for them to eat. 

"I will go down to the river 

and see if I can catch a fish,” 
said the poor woman. 

She went down to the river 

and fished for a long, long time. 

But she did not catch any fish. 

At last she became very tired. 

Just then she saw a little old man 
under a willow tree, by the river. 

23 



His clothes were tom. 

"Please mend my clothes,” he said. 
"I want my clothes mended.” 


"They need mending badly,” 
said the woman. 

"To be sure, I will mend them 
for you.” 

So she mended his clothes. 


24 










'Thank you,” said the little old man. 
He gave the old woman a penny. 

He wanted to do something for her. 
She had been so kind to him, 
and so willing to help. 

He said, 

"Plant this penny in the ground 
under that big tree on the hill. 
Then say, 

'Squash, come down!’ 

The squash will make a good supper 
for you and the children. 

But don’t let the squash hit you!” 

"Thank you,” said the woman. 

She ran to the hill and planted 
the penny under the tree. 
"Squash, come down,” she said. 

25 


A big yellow squash came down. 

She took it to the house and baked 
a good squash pie. 

What a fine supper it made! 

Next day a big, hungry-looking man 
came to the woman’s door. 

"I am very hungry,” he said. 

"Will you give me something to eat?” 

26 





"To be sure, you poor man,” 
said the kind woman. 

And she gave him some of the 
squash pie. 

"This is fine squash,” said the man. 

"Where did you get it?” 

The woman told him about 

the little old man at the river. 

But she did not think to tell him 
that she had mended 
the little old man’s clothes. 

"I will get some squashes, too,” 
said the big, hungry man. 

So he went down to the river 
to find the little old man. 


27 


There sat the little old man 
under the willow tree. 

His clothes were as old as ever. 

His face was dirty, too. 

"I should like some squashes,” 
said the big man. 

"Please wash my face,” 
said the little old man. 

"Wash it yourself!” said the big man. 

"It is all I can do 

to wash my own face.” 

"I will give you no squashes then,” 
said the little old man. 

"Well, if I must, I must,” 
said the big man 

in a gruff voice. 

28 


So the big man washed 
the little man’s face. 

The little man gave him a penny. 
"Plant this penny under the big tree 
on the hill,” he said. 

Then say, 'Squash, come down,’ 
and a squash will come down.” 

The big man went up to the hill 
and found the tree. 

"This penny is too good to plant,” 
he said. 

"I shall save it.” 

He looked up into the tree. 

"One squash is not enough,” he said. 
So he called, 

"Ten squashes, come down!” 

29 



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30 




















































Ten big squashes came down at once. 
They fell on the big man. 

They knocked him over. 

They knocked him this way and that. 
"Oh, stop, stop, stop!” 
cried the man. 

When he got up, he looked all around. 
There were no squashes to be seen. 
There was no tree. 

There was nothing for him. 

So the big, hungry man went on. 

But the poor woman came to the tree 
every day. 

She always found the tree. 

She always asked for one squash. 
One squash always came down. 

31 


Now You Tell Me 

Why did the poor woman fish? 

How did she help the little old man? 

Why did he give her a penny? 

What did she do with the penny? 

Who came to the kind woman’s door? 

What did he ask for? 

Why did the big man 
want ten squashes? 

What happened when he asked 
for ten squashes? 

What happened when the woman 
came and asked for one squash? 

Which person in this story 
do you like best? 

Why? 


32 


Wee Peterkin 

One day Little Girl Kitsy’s father 
called her out 
to the back yard. 

He was holding something 
in his hands. 

"Guess what I have here!” he said. 

Little Girl Kitsy made three guesses. 

Not one of the guesses was right. 

Her father opened his hands, 
and Little Girl Kitsy looked. 

She jumped and clapped her hands. 

"A bunny!” she cried. 

"A wee, tiny, woods bunny. 

Why, Father, I did not know 

that bunnies were ever so tiny!” 

33 



Little Girl Kitsy took the wee bunny 
in her hands. 

It was soft and warm. 

It was very, very tiny. 

It had big, round, brown eyes. 

"I will keep it for my pet,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

''Let’s make a house for it.” 


34 








'"This is a very young bunny,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy’s father. 

"I found it down in the big road. 

It had run away from its mother 
and was lost. 

I nearly ran over it with my car. 

But I stopped just in time 
and picked it up. 

"Little wild woods bunnies 
are very hard to keep. 

They do not like to live in a cage. 

They get homesick for the woods. 

"If they are big enough, 

they run back to the woods. 

If they are not big enough 

to run away, they may die.” 

35 


But Wee Peterkin did not die. 

Little Girl Kitsy’s mother fed it 
milk from a doll spoon. 

Little Girl Kitsy picked clover for it 
every morning. 

Wee Peterkin grew fast. 

She became tame. 

She learned to know Kitsy 
and Kitsy’s mother. 

She learned to drink milk 
from a dish. 

She would come running 

if Kitsy held out something 
for her to eat. 

One evening Kitsy forgot to close 
the door of bunny’s house. 

36 


The next day Wee Peterkin was gone. 
Little Girl Kitsy cried. 

She missed Wee Peterkin. 

"Do not cry,” said her father. 

"Wee Peterkin has gone 
back to her home. 

She is happier in the woods.” 

Summer passed. 

Winter came and went again. 

It was Spring now. 

"It is time to clean the yard,” 
said Mother. 

"Wee Peterkin’s house is old. 

We do not need it any more. 

We will burn it up.” 

37 


Little Girl Kitsy and Mother 
went over to the house. 

There was something in the house. 

''Look!” said Mother. 

Little Girl Kitsy looked inside. 

There in the corner were 
three tiny, tiny rabbits. 

They looked just like Wee Peterkin 
had looked when Little Girl Kitsy 
first saw her. 

They were just as soft 

and warm as Peterkin had been. 

They were very small. 

They had big round, brown eyes. 

They had long soft ears. 

38 



"Who put the bunnies there?” 
asked Little Girl Kitsy. 

"Wee Peterkin put them there,” 
said her mother. 

"Wee Peterkin did not forget us, 
after all. 

We shall not burn the cage now, 
shall we? 

It shall be the bunnies’ home.” 

39 














Dame Dot’s Sunday Dinner 

Little Dame Dot lived 

in Mother Goose Town. 

She had a small yellow house 
at the very end 
of the street. 

Little Dame Dot had a brown hen, too. 

The brown hen stayed in the yard 
of the small yellow house. 

40 









Every day Little Dame Dot 
gave the brown hen 
good corn and clean water 
to eat and drink. 

Nearly every day the brown hen 
laid an egg for Little Dame Dot. 

One day the brown hen forgot 
to lay the egg. 

There was not a thing in the house 
for Little Dame Dot to eat. 

And the next day was Sunday. 

Sunday morning 

when the brown hen awoke, 
she said, 

"Dear me, I forgot to lay 
an egg for Dame Dot.” 

41 


The brown hen felt very sad, 
for she did not lay eggs 
on Sunday. 

What would Little Dame Dot 
have to eat? 

• "I am afraid,” said Little Dame Dot, 
"that I shall have no dinner.” 

"Never mind,” said the brown hen. 

"I will scratch around and find 
something for your dinner.” 

"Very well,” said little Dame Dot. 

"But remember that I do not like 
brown bugs, 
grains of wheat, 
caterpillars, 
or stones to eat.” 


42 


The brown hen walked down the road, 
picketty-pecketty, 
scratching around, 
as brown hens like to do. 

She met a white and yellow puppy. 

''Where are you going, Brown Hen?” 
asked the puppy. 

"I am going to hunt a Sunday dinner 
for Little Dame Dot,” 
said the brown hen. 

"Oh, please let me go, too,” 
said the puppy. 

"I like Little Dame Dot. 

I should like to help you 

hunt a Sunday dinner for her.” 

43 


"Very well,” said the brown hen. 

"But remember that she does not like 
old bones, 
scraps of meat, 
shoes, rags, 
or sticks to eat.” 

The hen and the puppy went along 
down the road, 
picketty-pecketty, 
jumpetty-hoppity, 
as hens and puppies do. 

Pretty soon they met Pussy-Paws, 
the black kitten. 

Pussy-Paws had her Sunday ribbon 
around her neck and she looked 
very pleased with herself. 

44 



"Where are you going?” 
asked Pussy-Paws. 


"We are hunting a Sunday dinner 
for Little Dame Dot,” 
said the brown hen. 

"I forgot to lay an egg for her.” 

"Oh, please let me go, too,” 
said Pussy-Paws. 

45 







"I like Little Dame Dot. 

I would like to show her 

my pretty Sunday ribbon. 

And I would like to help 

hunt a Sunday dinner for her.” 

"Very well,” said the puppy. 

"But remember that she does not like 
little mice, 
frogs’ feet, 
sparrows’ wings, 
or rats to eat.” 

The hen, the puppy, and the kitten 
went along the road. 

The hen went picketty-pecketty. 

The puppy went jumpetty-hoppity. 

The kitten went skippety-frisketty. 

46 


Before long they came 

to a little white house. 

It was the house where 
Curly Locks lived. 

The brown hen said, "Cluck, cluck!” 

The yellow and white puppy said, 
"Bow-wow!” 

The black kitten said, "Meow!” 

Curly Locks came to the door. 

"Do come in!” she said. 

"I was just wishing that somebody 
would come to see me.” 

"No, thank you,” said the brown hen. 

"We are out hunting a Sunday dinner 
for Little Dame Dot.” 


47 



"I have the very things 

you want,” said Curly Locks. 

Curly Locks took a basket. 

She put some strawberry tarts 
into the basket. 

She put in some pumpkin pie, 
and a big piece of cheese, 
and some cinnamon rolls. 


48 
















Then she carried the basket, 

and started for Dame Dot’s house. 

The hen, the puppy and the kitten 
ran after her. 

Soon they came to Little Dame Dot’s 
small yellow house. 

"We have brought you 
a Sunday dinner,” 
said Curly Locks. 

"It is a good dinner.” 

"There are no little stones in it,” 
said the brown hen. 

"There are no bones in it,” 

said the yellow and white puppy. 

"There are no mice in it,” 
said the black kitten. 


49 


Little Dame Dot looked 
into the basket. 

"What a good dinner!” she said. 

"This is the finest Sunday dinner 
I have ever had. 

You must all help me eat it. 

We shall have a picnic 
under my cherry tree.” 

And so Little Dame Dot 
had her Sunday dinner. 

It was a good dinner. 

It was a picnic dinner. 

Curly Locks, the black kitten, 
the yellow and white puppy, 
and the brown hen, 
all helped to eat 
the Sunday picnic dinner. 

50 


Now You Tell Me 

What was Wee Peterkin? 

How did she come to Kitsy’s house? 

What did she like to eat? 

Where did Wee Peterkin go 
when she ran away? 

Why did she come back? 

What did she bring when 
she came back? 

Who lived with Little Dame Dot? 

What happened on the day 
before Sunday? 

Did Little Dame Dot have 
any Sunday dinner? 

What did she have? 

Who found it for her? 

Who helped her eat it? 

51 


The Little Dog That Wanted 
a Green Tail 

There was once 

a little brown dog. 

He had black ears, a black tail 
and one black foot. 

But this little dog was unhappy. 

He did not like his black tail. 

He wanted a green tail. 

All day long he kept crying, 

"I wish I had a green tail. 

Oh, how I wish I had a green tail! 

A green tail 

would be so beautiful.” 

One day a big brown owl 

heard the little dog crying. 

52 



The owl said to the little dog, 
"The grass is beautiful 
and it is green. 

Why do you not ask the grass 
to tell you 

what makes it green?” 

The little dog ran to the field 
where the grass was growing. 

53 

















He said to the grass, 

"0 Grass, Grass, 

what makes you so green? 

Please tell me! 

I want to have 

a beautiful green tail.” 

The little grasses 

danced and nodded. 

"We do not know 

what makes us green,” 
they sang. 

"All we know is that we were 
under the ground. 

When we came up we were green. 

You might try getting under 
the ground. 

That might make your tail green.” 

54 


The little dog went to work 
as fast as he could. 

He dug a deep hole in the ground. 

He went into the hole 

and covered himself with dust. 

But it was too hot down there. 

So he had to come up. 

Then he looked at his tail. 

It was the same color as before. 

It was not green. 

He ran to the owl again and said, 
”0 Mr. Owl, 

I have been to the grass 

and it has not helped me at all. 

I can not be happy until I have 
a beautiful green tail. 

Please tell me what to do next.” 

55 


The owl laughed and said, 

"The grass is not the only 
green thing. 

There are the leaves 

on the big maple tree. 

They are as green as the grass. 

Why not go to them? 

Maybe they can help you.” 

The little dog ran 

as fast as he could 
to the great maple tree. 

He called up to the little leaves, 
"0 Leaves, Leaves, 
what makes you so green? 

Please tell me! 

I want to make my tail 
as green as you.” 

56 


The little leaves laughed 
and answered, 

"We do not know 
what makes us so green. 

We came to this tree 
in the spring. 

At first we were yellow. 

But we danced up and down 
on the tree. 

The more we danced, 

the more green we became. 

If you will come up here 

and dance on our branches 
you may become as green as we.” 

The little dog climbed the tree. 

He tried to dance about 
on its branches. 


57 



But he could not stay on 
as the leaves did. 

He fell to the ground 

and bumped his head. 

When he looked at his tail 

he saw it was the same color 
as before. 

It was not green at all. 

It was black. 


58 









So the little dog sat down and cried. 

After a while he got up 

and went to see the owl again. 

The little dog said, 

"0 Mr. Owl, I have tried 
the way the leaves said, 
but I fell off the tree 
and hurt my head. 

My tail is not green at all. 

Please tell me what to do! 

I can not be happy 

without a green tail!” 

The owl laughed again and said, 

"Do you think 
there is nothing green 
in the world 
but grass and leaves? 

59 


"What about the sea, 
the great green sea? 

There is more green in the sea 
than in the grass and leaves. 

Go ask the sea what makes 
him so green. 

The sea is old and knows everything. 
He will tell you all about it.” 

The little dog ran as fast 

as he could down to the sea. 
There was the great big, .wild sea 
rolling up and down. 

He looked very green and hungry. 

The little dog was frightened. 

But he thought how beautiful 

a green tail would be. 

60 


He said to the sea, 

"0 Sea, Sea, 

Mr. Owl says you are very old 
and know everything. 

Will you please tell me 

what makes you so green? 

I want to have a green tail.” 

The great big sea gave a loud laugh. 
Then he said, 

"Yes, Little Dog, 

I can tell you how to get 
a green tail. 

I am green myself. 

I make green everything I hold. 

Let me hold you for a minute, 
and I will make you green 

and beautiful.” 

61 




The great big, hungry sea held out 
his arms. 

The little dog shut his eyes 

a 

and jumped in. 

The .big green sea was cold and wet. 
The little dog became cold and wet. 


"Let me go!” cried the little dog. 
"This is no fun.” 


62 



























The big sea laughed. 

"You are not yet green,” he said. 
"Let me hold you a while longer.” 

At last the big sea rolled up 
on the shore, 

and the little dog jumped out. 
He was cold and wet and frightened. 
His tail was not green, 
but he did not care. 

"Come back,” said the sea, 

"let me hold you longer.” 

"I do not want to be green,” 
said the little dog. 

"I would rather be safe.” 

And he ran home wagging 
his black tail behind him. 


63 


A Queer Birthday Party 

In a big white house in the country 
lived a little girl named Jane. 

One morning Jane jumped out of bed 
as happy as she could be. 

She dressed herself quickly. 

She sang while she dressed. 

A little bird looked in 

at her window and said, 

"Why are you so happy 
this morning?” 

"Why, Little Bird,” said Jane, 

"this is my birthday. 

I am six years old to-day 
and I am going to have 
a birthday cake with candles.” 

64 


The little bird flew around 
all morning. 

Wherever he went, he talked about 
Jane’s birthday and the cake 
and the candles. 

Jane’s mother made the cake. 

It was a fine big cake, 

and there were six candles on it. 

''Wouldn’t it be nice,” said Jane, 

"if I could have a birthday party, 
with friends to help eat my cake?” 

"Yes, it would,” said Jane’s mother. 

But there were no other houses close 
to Jane’s house in the country. 

So Jane did not know anyone 
to ask to her birthday party. 

65 



Soon Jane heard a little.noise 
at the kitchen window. 

A brown squirrel was sitting there. 
"What do you want?” asked Jane. 
"A nut, a nut, a nut 

from the birthday cake,” 
said the squirrel. 

Jane took a nut from the cake 

and gave it to the squirrel. 

66 





Then Jane heard a tiny noise 
in the comer of the kitchen. 

A little mouse was there. 

"What do you want, Little Mouse?” 
asked Jane. 

"A bite, a bite, a bite, 

from the birthday cake,” 
squeaked the little mouse. 

So Jane broke off a little bite 
of the cake and gave it 
to the little mouse. 

Just then Jane heard a noise 
at the back door. 

The noise sounded like 
"Trip-trap, trip-trap.” 

She went to the door and opened it. 

There stood Billy Goat. 

67 



"Well, Billy Goat, what do you want?” 

"A candle, a candle, a candle 
from the birthday cake,” 
said the goat. 

"Dear me!” said Jane. 

But she wanted to be polite 
to her company. 

She took a candle from the cake 

and gave it to the goat. 

68 


















She heard another noise 
at the back door. 

A fat, pink pig was there. 

"I know what you want,” said Jane. 

"You want something 

from the birthday cake. 

What do you want?” 

"Some of everything,” 
said the pink pig. 

"A nut like the squirrel’s, 
a bite like the mouse’s, 
a candle like the billy goat’s.” 

"What a pig you are!” said Jane. 

But she gave him a nut and a bite 
and a candle. 


69 


The pink pig ate everything 
and ran away. 

Then Jane lighted the rest 
of the candles. 

There were just four left. 

"One for Father, one for Mother, 
one for Baby, and one for me,” 
said Jane. 

"Each of you must make - 

a birthday wish on a candle.” 

Each made a wish for Jane. 

They sang a birthday song. 

Jane blew out the candles. 

Then she cut the birthday cake. 

Jane and her father and her mother 
and the baby ate it. 

70 


How Little Raindrop Helped 

A little raindrop lived 
up in the sky. 

"I have played here long enough,” 
said the little raindrop 
one day. 

"It is winter now. 

I am going down to the ground 
to see what good I can do.” 

The little raindrop started 
down to the ground. 

On the way she went through a cloud 
that was very cold. 

The little raindrop became long 
and thin and hard. 

She turned into a little ice needle, 
sharp and cold. 

71 


As she was going down she met 
other ice needles. 

Soon there were 

six little ice needles 
going down together. 

The six little ice needles 
made one snowflake, 
a soft, white snowflake. 

As this little snowflake fell 

it met other little snowflakes. 

"Where are we going?” 

they asked of one another. 

"Down to the ground 

to see what good we can do,” 
answered this little snowflake. 

All the snowflakes fell together. 

They fell faster and faster. 

72 



They fell to the ground 
behind a little house. 

In this house lived 

a poor little sick boy. 

The little boy had planted 
some flower seeds 
in the ground behind the house. 

The snowflakes fell on the place 
where the seeds were. 

73 





"We will cover the seeds up,” 
they said. 

"We will keep the seeds warm. 

Then the little boy 

will have pretty flowers 
next summer.” 

The snowflakes covered the ground 
with snow. 

They kept the seeds warm 
all winter. 

When spring came, 
all the. snowflakes 
turned to water. 

The water ran down into the ground 
and the seeds drank it. 

Then they began to grow. 

74 



The little seeds grew 
bigger and bigger. 

Little leaves grew from each seed. 

When summer came, the little boy 
had beautiful flowers 
in his garden. 

He was happy all summer. 

The little raindrop had her wish. 

She had helped to do good. 

75 







Now You Tell Me 

Who told the little dog 

where to look for a green tail? 

What did the sea do 
to the little dog? 

Did the little dog ever get 
a green tail? 

Why was Jane happy? 

Who told every one 

about Jane’s birthday cake? 

What did the little pig ask for? 

What did the raindrop become 
when it was very cold? 

What made the little boy happy 
in the summer? 

How did the little raindrop help? 

76 


The Selfish Little Tree 

A little pine tree grew 
in the woods. 

All around the little tree 
grew many bigger trees. 

The little pine tree 
did not like this. 

"I do not have room enough,” 
said the little tree. 

"I wish these other trees 
were cut down. 

I want all the sunshine. 

I want all the wind to blow on me. 

I want to be bigger and stronger 
than any tree in the woods. 

I want to be king 
of them all. 


77 


"There is room for all,” 
said a happy bluebird. 

"There is sunshine for all. 

There is wind for all. 

Do not be selfish, Little Tree.” 

"I wish all the other trees 
were cut down,” 
said the little tree again. 

One day a man came to the woods. 

He cut down the big trees. 

He took them away with him. 

"Now I am happy,” 
said the little tree. 

"I shall be the biggest tree 
in the woods.” 


78 



Soon the sun came out 
bright and warm. 

The selfish little tree 
became hot and dry. 

It cried, 

"I wish the big trees were here 
to keep the sun from me!” 

But the big trees 

had been cut down. 


79 







The wind blew long and hard 
upon the little tree. 

'T wish the big trees were here 
to keep the wind from me,” 
said the little tree. 

But the big trees were cut down. 

The wind blew on the little tree, 
and broke it in two. 

"Poor little pine tree!” 
said the bluebird. 

"The big trees were its friends. 

They kept the sun and wind from it. 

They helped it to grow. 

But the little tree was selfish 
and wanted the big trees 
taken away.” 


80 



The Pumpkin That Laughed 

A big yellow pumpkin stood 
in the store window. 

J imm y and Jack came into the store. 

"Just the pumpkin we want 
for our jack-o’-lantern. 

Let us buy it,” they said. 

They took the pumpkin home 
with them. 


81 





The boys cut the top 
off the pumpkin. 

They took out the seeds. 

They made two big eyes 
and a funny nose in it. 

And they put a candle inside. 

The pumpkin laughed. 

"Now I am a jack-o’-lantern,” 
he said to himself. 

"There’s not a finer jack-o’-lantern 
on the street,” 
said the boys. 

They put the jack-o’-lantern 
in the window. 

The jack-o’-lantern laughed. 

He laughed all the time. 

He was made that way. 

82 


Soon Little Sister Patty 
came up the walk. 

She was very happy. 

Her aunt had given her 
a little black kitten. 

She had the kitten in a basket. 

Patty looked up at the window. 

She saw a great big, yellow face 
looking out of the window 
and laughing. 

Patty was so frightened 

that she dropped her basket. 

The black kitten jumped out 
and ran away. 

Patty began to cry. 

The boys heard her crying. 

83 



Jimmy and Jack came running 
out of the house. 

"What’s the matter, Patty?” 
they asked. 

"Don’t you like our pumpkin? 
There is not a finer 

jack-o’-lantern on the street.” 

Patty kept on crying. 

She cried loudly. 

84 










"No, I don’t like your pumpkin,” 
said Patty. 

"It frightened me 

and my black kitten. 

The kitten ran away.” 

The jack-o’-lantern felt very sad. 

He wanted to stop smiling, 
but he could not stop. 

His smile was part of his face. 

So he stopped burning. 

No one saw that he had stopped, 
because Patty was still crying. 

The next day Jimmy and Jack 
went out to hunt for 
the black kitten. 

They hunted all day long. 

85 


That night Mother said, 

"The boys will like to see 
the jack-o’-lantern lighted 
when they come home. 

Shall I light it, Patty?” 

"Let me light it,” said Patty. 

She took the match and went over 
to the jack-o’-lantern. 

"I do not like you,” 

she said to the jack-o’-lantern. 

"But Jimmy and Jack like you, 
so I will light you for them.” 

The jack-o’-lantern looked out 
of the window and laughed. 

Soon there was a noise at the door. 

Patty went to open it. 



"Why, here is my little 
black kitten!” she cried. 

"Do you suppose the jack-o’-lantern 
showed it the way here?” 

"I suppose it did,” said Mother. 

Just then Jimmy and Jack came in. 
They were carrying a big basket. 
"Look in here,” said Jack. 

87 























Patty looked into the big basket. 

There were six more black kittens! 

"We went to nearly all the houses 
asking for black kittens,” 
said Jimmy. 

Patty was seven times as happy 
as she had been before. 

"We have the finest jack-o’-lantern 
on the street,” she said, 

"and the most black kittens!” 

Then they all laughed— 

Jack and Jimmy, 

Patty and Mother and Father 
and the jack-o’-lantern. 

But the jack-o’-lantern laughed 
the most of all. 


The Fairy’s Thanksgiving Visit 

One day a little fairy said 
to her mother, 

"Mother, as I was flying 
through the air to-day, 

I heard people talking 
about Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving must be something nice. 

May I go for a visit 
to the earth to see 
what Thanksgiving is like?” 

The fairy mother said, 

"Yes, you may go. 

Wash your face, 

brush your wings. 

Wear your red shoes 

with the silver strings.” 

89 



The little fairy washed her face 
and brushed her wings. 

She put on her red shoes 
with the silver strings. 

She flew down to the earth to see 
what Thanksgiving was like. 

The fairy came to a large, fine house. 

She flew in through a window. 

90 









Everything in the house looked rich 
and beautiful. 

The fairy saw a table with many 
good things upon it. 

Servants were bringing in 
more food. 

A man and woman sat at the table. 

They looked very proud. 

"This must be Thanksgiving,” 
thought the little fairy. 

She spoke to the man 
and the woman. 

"If you please,” she said, 

"is this Thanksgiving?” 

No one answered her. 

Neither the man or the woman 
looked up from the table. 

91 


The man spoke to the servants 
in a loud, cross tone. 

"If this is Thanksgiving,” 
said the fairy to herself, 

"I do not like it.” 

She flew on to another house. 

She flew in through a window. 

There was another table 
set for dinner. 

Three children sat around 
the table. 

The mother was just bringing in 
the roast turkey. 

The children clapped their hands. 

"Surely this is Thanksgiving,” 
said the little fairy to herself. 

92 


The mother put the turkey 
on the table. 

"If you please,” said the little fairy, 
"is this Thanksgiving?” 

No one answered. 

No one looked at the fairy. 

The children were all too busy 
eating turkey. 

"You have the biggest piece,” 
said the boy to his sister. 

"You have the biggest piece,” 
said the sister. 

"Both of you have more than I,” 
said the little brother. 


"I want more.” 


93 


"What a noise!” said the fairy. 

"If this is Thanksgiving, 

I am sure I do not like it.” 

She flew until her wings were tired. 

At last she stopped 
at a little house 
in the country. 

She flew in through a crack 
in the door. 

Here was another table. 

A mother and a father 

were sitting at the table. 

A little baby with yellow hair 
came in with a basket. 

There were five apples 
in the basket. 


94 


A little boy came in 

with a big pitcher of milk. 

A little girl came in 

with a big dish of potatoes. 

'There is not so very much,” 
said the mother, 

"but it is good. 

Dick helped to plant the potatoes. 

Ann milked the cow. 

Baby Blue helped me 
get the apples.” 

"It is a wonderful dinner,” 
said the father. 

"And I am so thankful 

that I can sit up to-day 
and eat some of it.” 

95 


"You will soon be quite well again,” 
said the mother. 

"Let us all be thankful.” 

They all bowed their heads 
and were thankful. 

Then the little fairy said, 

"This is Thanksgiving, isn’t it?” 

The father and mother said, 

"Yes, dear.” 

They did not see the little fairy. 

They thought it was the baby 
who spoke. 

The little boy and girl said, 

"How do you like Thanksgiving?” 

They did not see 

the little fairy, either. 

96 



97 

































































But the baby saw the fairy. 

Baby laughed and clapped her hands. 
She held out her arms 
to the fairy. 

The fairy flew to the baby 

and sat on the baby’s hair. 

The fairy said, 

"I like Thanksgiving. 

I’m glad I’m here!” 

98 













The father and the mother 
and the children laughed. 

They thought it was 
the baby who spoke. 

But the baby knew 
it was the fairy. 

So she laughed most of all. 

It was a wonderful dinner. 

Never before had potatoes 

tasted so much like turkey. 

Never before had bread and milk 
tasted so much like ice cream. 

Never before had apples 

tasted so much like pumpkin pie. 

Never before had the family 
liked Thanksgiving so well. 

Why do you suppose that was? 


Now You Tell Me 

What did the selfish 
little tree wish for? 

What happened to the little tree 
when it was all alone? 

What is a jack-o’-lantern? 

What frightened Patty 
and her kitten? 

Why couldn’t the pumpkin 
stop smiling? 

What made Patty and every one else 
happy? 

Why did the fairy come to earth? 

What did the little fairy do 
just before she came down? 

Who saw the little fairy? 


100 



Miss Perkins and the Potatoes 

Little Girl Kitsy had many dolls. 

She had big dolls, little dolls, 

curly-haired dolls and rag dolls. 

She had dolls that went to sleep 
and dolls that said "Mamma!” 

But the doll that she loved best 
was little Miss Perkins. 


101 



Miss Perkins was a wooden doll. 

She was made of big wooden beads. 

Her head was one big bead. 

Her dress was two big beads. 

Her legs and arms were strings 
of beads. 

Her shoes were beads, too. 

Miss Perkins was painted 
in many colors. 

Her hair was red. 

Her dress was blue and green. 

Her stockings were white. 

Her shoes were black. 

Everywhere that Kitsy went 
she took Miss Perkins along 
because she loved her so. 


102 


One day in the spring 

Little Girl Kitsy’s father 
began to make a garden. 

He planted seeds and little plants 
in the ground. 

"Let me go with you,” said Kitsy. 

"I should like to help 
make a garden. 

I like to plant things.” 

"I am planting potatoes to-day,” 
said Father. 

"I like to plant potatoes,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

So Kitsy and Father went out 
to the garden. 

103 


Father carried a hoe 

and a basket of potatoes. 

Kitsy carried Miss Perkins. 

''Don’t you think Miss Perkins 
should stay at home 
with the other dolls?” 
asked Father. 

"Dolls do not know how 
to plant gardens.” 

"Miss Perkins is a good doll,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy, 

"and she likes 
to plant potatoes.” 

"Very well,” said Father. 

So Miss Perkins, Kitsy and Father 
planted the potatoes. 

104 



Father made little holes 

in the ground with the hoe. 

Kitsy dropped in pieces of potato. 

Miss Perkins sat and watched 
to see that everything 
was all right. 

Father and Kitsy and Miss Perkins 
were there until dinner time. 

105 



At last the potatoes 
were all planted. 

"Time to go home,” said Father. 

"Time to eat dinner.” 

"I am glad,” said Little Girl Kitsy. 

"I am hungry for dinner.” 

There was roast chicken 
for dinner. 

And there was blackberry pie. 

Kitsy liked roast chicken 
and blackberry pie. 

She ate and ate. 

After dinner Kitsy took a nap. 

Planting potatoes had made her 
very sleepy. 


106 


When she waked up, 

Kitsy thought of Miss Perkins. 

u Where is my Miss Perkins?” 
asked Little Girl Kitsy. 

She looked everywhere 

about the house and yard. 

She could not find Miss Perkins. 

Then she sat on the porch 
and cried. 

'Why, what is the matter?” 
asked Father. 

"Miss Perkins is gone,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

"I have looked everywhere, 
but I can not find her. 

I can not find 

my dear Miss Perkins.” 

107 


"Perhaps Miss Perkins stayed 
in the garden,” said Father. 

Father and Kitsy went 
into the garden. 

They looked up, 

they looked down, 
they looked under the trees, 
and they looked behind 
the blackberry bushes. 

They could not find Miss Perkins. 

"Never mind,” said Father. 

"We shall find Miss Perkins 
some day.” 

Spring and Summer went by. 

Miss Perkins was not found. 


108 


At last Fall came. 

"It is time to dig the potatoes,” 
said Father. 

"Let me help,” 

said Little Girl Kitsy. 

"I would like to help 
dig the potatoes 
poor Miss Perkins 
helped us to plant.” 

So Kitsy and Father went 
to the garden. 

Father carried a big fork. 

Kitsy carried a sack. 

Father dug up the ground 
with the fork. 

Kitsy picked up the potatoes. 

109 



"Why, what is this?” 

asked Father. 

"Look, Kitsy! 

Here is a funny-looking potato.” 
Kitsy looked, and looked again. 
What do you think she saw there 
among the round, 
brown potatoes? 

It was Miss Perkins! 


110 








All summer long Miss Perkins 
had been under the ground. 

She was brown now, 

just like the potatoes. 

She looked as if she were 
made of brown potatoes. 

Kitsy picked up Miss Perkins 
and looked at her. 

"Dear Miss Perkins, how glad I am 
to see you!” 
said Kitsy. 

"You are still beautiful to me.” 

"Well, well, well,” 
laughed Father. 

"Now we know that Miss Perkins 

likes potatoes, don’t we?” 

in 


Jack Frost 

Jack Frost came down 
from the mountains 
one night. 

He rode on a wind horse, 
strong and white. 

All the trees in the forest 
bent low, low, low. 

All the little leaves whispered, 
"Oh, oh, oh!” 

And the little brooks shivered, 
"No, no, no!” 

Jack Frost only laughed. 

"I have work,” he said. 

"I must paint the maple leaves 

gold and red. 

112 



a silver white. 

I must work, I must work, 

I must work to-night!” 

So the wild, white wind horse 
jumped and flew, 

And the little, white snowflakes 
danced and blew, 

And colder and colder 

the stormy night grew. 

113 














Jack went at his work 

with a laugh and a rush. 

He touched the leaves 

with a gold-tipped brush. 

He touched the leaves 
with a brush of red. 

"Here are new fall dresses, 
my dears!” he said. 

He covered the hillside 
with silver dust, 

And over the brooks 

laid a diamond crust. 

White shone the house tops 
beneath his hand. 

Each window showed pictures 
of Fairy Land. 

114 



The world was white 

and the world was still. 
Morn came creeping up the hill. 
And Jack Frost yawned— 

"I am tired/’ he said. 

"My work is done, 

I must go to bed.” 


He went to the top 
of the maple tree. 

115 








"Ho, ho! Friend Squirrel, 
is there room for me?” 

He called, and peeked 

through a hole in the tree. 

He saw the squirrels 
in a cozy heap, 

Cuddled up warm 
and fast asleep. 

Then away he ran 

through the frosty air, 

And said with a laugh, 

"No room for me there!” 

He went to the 

silver-painted hill. 

To a frost-covered rock 
he whistled shrill. 


116 


"Is there room for me here?” 
he said, 

"Under the rock 

in your nice dark bed?” 

He peeped in the hole 
so dark and deep. 

There was the rabbit, 
fast asleep, 

Furry and warm, and fast asleep. 

Then away he ran 

through the frosty air. 

Sang he with a laugh, 

"No room for me there!” 

He hurried away 

to a house again, 

And he peeped through 
a painted windowpane. 

117 



There was a room where 
the fire burned so, 

And a mother cat sat 
in its cozy glow 
With her soft, warm babies 
there, below. 

"No room,” said Jack. 

"Oh dear me, no! 

I can’t stay here, 

I would better go!” 

118 




To the other side of the house 
he fled. 

Through a crack in the window 
he poked his head. 

There was the baby 
fast asleep, 

In her blankets warm 
and soft and deep. 

Her nightgown was warm 
and soft and pink. 

"There’s no room here,” 
said Jack, with a wink. 

Then Jack Frost yawned— 

"It is late,” he said. 

"It is time for me 
to be in bed. 

119 


The meadow pond 

where the horses drink 

Will make a good bed for me, 
I think.” 

Then off he ran 

down the silver hill. 

The meadow pond 
was cool and still. 

Into the water 
he put his toe. 

The water shivered 

and cried, "Oh! Oh!” 

But Jack laughed loud 
as he waded in, 

Farther and farther, 

up to his chin. 

120 


The water was still 

and the water was deep. 
"Now, at last,” said Jack, 

"I can go to sleep!” 

Where the still pond water 
came over his head, 

Jack lay down. 

"What a lovely bed!” 

Morning came 

and the sun shone bright 
On a frosty world 
of silver white. 

The squirrels ran down 
from the maple tree. 
"ThereTl be nuts on the ground 

for you and me!” 

121 


The rabbit jumped up 
from his rocky den. 

"I must be up. 

It’s day again!” 

The mother cat 

and her babies wee 
Walked out to see 

what they could see. 

The baby laughed 
in glad surprise, 

At the fairy pictures 
before her eyes. 

And every one said, 

"The world is white. 
Jack Frost was surely here 

last night!” 

122 





But down at the pond 

where the ice was deep, 
Tired Jack Frost 
lay fast asleep. 

123 















Polly Ann’s Pumpkins 

Polly Ann was a little girl 
who lived many years ago. 

She lived at a time 

when there were Indians 
all over our land. 

Sometimes bad Indians 
would come at night 
and burn down the houses 
of the white people. 

Sometimes they would carry away 
the women and the children. 

But Polly Ann was a happy girl, 
just the same. 

She helped her mother in the house. 

She took care of the garden. 

124 



There were potatoes and corn 
and pumpkins in the garden. 

Best of anything in the garden 
Polly Ann liked the pumpkins. 

The pumpkins were so big 
and yellow. 

They made such good pies. 

They made fine jack-o’-lanterns. 

Polly Ann always took good care 
of the pumpkins. 

125 








One day Polly Ann’s father 
went to town. 

Polly Ann and her mother were 
alone in the house. 

That night would be Halloween. 

"If you will pick all the sweet corn 
from the garden to-day,” 
said Polly Ann’s mother, 

"I will make you 
some jack-o’-lanterns.” 

Polly Ann worked hard and picked 
the sweet corn 
for her mother. 

They brought in two pumpkins. 

They cut big eyes and a funny 

mouth in each pumpkin. 

126 


They put a candle in each pumpkin 
and then set the pumpkins 
in the window. 

Just as Polly was getting ready 
to light the candles, 
a man came riding up. 

"The Indians are coming!” 
cried the man. 

"Close your doors and windows. 

Put out your lights, 

and cover your fires, 

so the Indians can not see you.” 

Polly Ann and her mother 
did as they were told. 

They closed the doors 
and the windows. 


127 


They covered the fires, 

and put out the lights. 

But they were still afraid. 

They had no gun. 

Night was coming. 

"Let us light the jack-o’-lanterns,” 
said Polly Ann. 

"They will frighten 
the Indians away.” 

Polly Ann and her mother 

lighted the jack-o’-lanterns. 

After a while the Indians came. 

They came through the woods, 
running and shouting. 

They came to Polly Ann’s house. 

128 



When the Indians saw 
the jack-o’-lanterns 
looking at them in the darkness 
they turned and ran. 

The Indians thought the 

jack-o’-lanterns were bad spirits. 

The Indians did not come back. 

That is how Polly Ann’s pumpkins 
took care of her. 


129 





Now You Tell Me 

What kind of a doll was 
Miss Perkins? 

Why did Little Girl Kitsy 
forget Miss Perkins? 

Where did Miss Perkins 
stay all summer? 

What did Jack Frost travel on? 

What kind of work does he do? 

Have you ever seen a window 
or a leaf he has painted? 

Where did Jack Frost go to sleep? 

How did Polly Ann’s pumpkins 
take care of her? 

What did the Indians do 

when they saw the pumpkins? 

130 


The Currant Bun 

Mother was in the kitchen 
making bread. 

Little Girl Kitsy came 
into the kitchen. 

She had been in the back yard 
making mud pies. 

"My baking is all done,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

"Will you let me help you 
with your bread, Mother?” 

"I need a little girl to help me,” 
said Mother. 

"Wash your face and hands 

and I will give you some dough. 

You can make a little currant bun.” 

131 



Little Girl Kitsy washed 
her face and hands. 

Then Mother gave her dough 
to make a little currant bun. 


Kitsy stood on a chair 
at the kitchen table. 

The sun came through the window. 
A little wind came dancing, too. 

132 


















"I love baking days,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

She rolled the soft, white dough. 

She patted it and patted it. 

She rolled currants into it. 

She made a little bun, 
a little currant bun. 

She put it in a pan. 

She put sugar and cinnamon on it. 

Then she put a piece of butter 
in the middle of it. 

Kitsy sang as she worked. 

"It’s fun, it’s fun, it’s fun 
to make a currant bun. 

A currant bun all brown and sweet 
will be so very good to eat.” 

133 


Mother covered up all the buns 
with a cloth. 

"'Now we shall let them rise,” 
she said. 

"When they are big and light, 
we shall bake them.” 

Little Girl Kitsy went out 

and played until dinner time. 

When she came in to dinner 
the currant buns were 
on the table. 

There were six beautiful 
big brown buns. 

There was one beautiful little bun. 

The little brown bun 
was on Kitsy’s plate. 

134 


She picked up the bun 
and looked at it. 

"How good it smells, too!” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

"How brown and nice it is! 

Mother, I think it is almost 
too beautiful to be eaten.” 

"It is beautiful,” said Mother. 

"Perhaps you would like to save it, 
and eat some of mine.” 

Little Girl Kitsy ate two big buns. 

Then she took the little bun 
and went out walking. 

She went to the cat. 

"See this currant bun,” she said. 

"I made it myself.” 

135 



The cat looked at the bun. 

"It is beautiful,” she said. 
"The warm sun is in it. 

I like the sun. 

May I have the bun?” 

Little Girl Kitsy gave the cat 
a bite of the bun. 

Then she went to the puppy. 

136 










"See this currant bun,” she said. 
"I made it myself.” 

"It is a fine bun,” said the puppy. 
"There is fun and play in it. 

I like fun and play. 

May I have a bite?” 

The little girl gave him a bite. 
She went to the hen. 

"See this currant bun,” she said. 
"I made it.” 

The hen looked at the bun. 

"It is lovely,” she said. 

"There is a little song in it. 

I like songs. 

May I have a bite?” 

137 


The little girl gave her 
a tiny bite. 

She went to the pen 

where Doda Pig lived. 

"'See this currant bun,” she said. 

"I made it.” 

Doda Pig looked at the bun. 

"Oh, oh, how nice!” he said. 

"There is a little bit 
of mud pie in it. 

I love mud pies. 

May I have a bite?” 

Little Girl Kitsy 

held out the bun. 

Doda Pig took it in his mouth. 

He ate it down very fast. 

138 



"Did you like that bun?” 

asked Little Girl Kitsy. 
Doda Pig nodded his head. 
"Un-huh! Un-huh! Un-huh!” 
he said. 

Little Girl Kitsy ran home. 
She sang as she ran. 

"It’s fun, it’s fun, it’s fun, 
to make a currant bun.” 


139 










140 












The Old Woman Who Went 
Up In a Basket 

Did you ever hear about 

the old woman who went up 
in a basket to sweep 
the cobwebs out of the sky? 
She lived in Mother Goose Town. 
Here is a rhyme about her! 

There was an old woman 
Went up in a basket 
Nine times as high 
As the moon. 

And where she was going 
I couldn’t but ask it, 

For in her hand 
She carried a broom. 

141 


"Old Woman, Old Woman, 
Old Woman,” said I, 

"Oh, whither, oh, whither, 
Oh, whither so high?” 

"To sweep the cobwebs 
Out of the sky.” 

One day a funny thing 

happened to this old woman. 

She was up in the sky 

sweeping the cobwebs out. 

She saw something shining 
among the cobwebs. 

She picked it up 
and looked at it. 

It was a star, 

a lovely little silver star. 

142 


"0 you pretty thing!” 
cried the old woman. 

"I would like to have you 
for my very own. 

You would look beautiful 
shining on my wall. 

You would be company for me 
when night comes. 

I am going to take you home!” 

The old woman put 

the star in her apron pocket. 

She took it home with her. 

She tied a ribbon 

around the little star, 
and hung it from the shelf 
just below the clock. 

143 



The little silver star 

kept shining in the dark. 

The old woman was very proud of it. 
"I am the only woman in the world 
who has a star 
in her kitchen,” she said. 

The old woman went to bed. 

She went to sleep. 

144 












In the night she awoke. 

She heard a little voice crying. 

She listened. 

"I want to go home,” 
said the voice. 

''It is only the tree toads,” 
said the old woman. 

She looked out the window. 

"Go home, then, Tree Toads,” 
she called. 

She went back to bed 
and closed her eyes. 

She heard the little voice again. 

She listened. 

"I want to go home!” 
said the voice. 


145 


"It is only the night owl,” 
said the old woman. 

She looked up the chimney. 

"Go home, then, Night Owl,” 
she called. 

She went back to bed, 
and closed her eyes. 

Soon she heard the voice again. 

She listened, and heard 
it crying. 

"I want to go home,” cried the voice. 

"It is only the Sandman,” 
said the old woman. 

She went to the door. 

"Go home, then, Sandman,” 
she called. 


146 


She went back to bed 
and closed her eyes. 

Soon she heard the voice again, 
crying and crying. 

"I want to go home!” 
cried the voice. 

The old woman sat up in bed. 

"It must be a mouse 

in the mousetrap,” she said. 

She put on her glasses. 

She looked under the bed. 

"Go home, then, Mouse,” she said. 

There was no mouse in the trap. 

She got back into bed. 

The voice kept crying. 

147 


The old woman went to the kitchen. 

"It must be the little silver star,” 
she said. 

She took the star to the door, 

"Go, then, lovely little star,” 
she said. 

The little silver star 

flew out of her hands. 

Up and up it flew. 

It flew up near the moon. 

The old woman went back to bed. 

She went to sleep. 

She heard no more crying that night. 

But the little silver star still shines 
on the old woman. 


148 


The Dinner Party 

Little Girl Kitsy 

was going to have a dinner party 
for all her dolls. 

The party was going to be 
in the back yard. 

It was going to be 

under the apple tree. 

Little Girl Kitsy 

took her doll table 
and her doll chairs 
and all her dolls 
out to the back yard. 

She set the doll table 

with the very best doll dishes. 

She put a pink rose 

in the middle of the table. 


149 


"I wish to eat my dinner 

out in the back yard to-day,” 
said Kitsy to her mother. 

"My dolls are going to have 
a dinner party. 

I must hurry.” 

"Oh, of course,” said Mother. 

"Be sure that you have enough 
for yourself and for the dolls 
to eat.” 

Mother put some things 
into a basket. 

"These are for the dinner party,” 
said Mother. 

"I want you to have 

a good time at the party.” 

150 


Little Girl Kitsy 

looked into the basket. 

There were two warm buns. 

There was a piece of ham. 

There was a little dish 
of good potatoes. 

"Miss Perkins will like 
these potatoes,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

There was a little pink cake 
with a nut on it. 

There was a yellow apple. 

Little Girl Kitsy put the warm buns 
on the table. 

She put the ham and the potatoes 
on the table. 


151 



She put the little pink cake 
and the yellow apple 
on the table. 

All the dolls sat on the ground 
and smiled. 

They watched Kitsy put the things 
on the table. 

The dolls were very good and polite. 

152 













A fat little mouse was hiding 

behind a tree in the back yard. 

She looked out from behind the tree 
at Little Girl Kitsy 
and the dolls. 

"I wonder what they are doing 
in my yard,” 
thought the little mouse. 

She kept on looking 

with her little black eyes. 

'"Dinner is ready,” 

said Little Girl Kitsy. 

"Come, Miss Perkins, 
come, Raggedy Ann, 

Come, Betty Lou, 

and Sailor Boy Dan.” 

153 


Little Girl Kitsy put the dolls 
around the table. 

"Now you must be polite 
at the table,” she said. 

Just then Little Girl Kitsy saw 
an automobile stop at the gate. 

There was a man in the automobile 
who had come to sell books 
to Little Girl Kitsy’s mother. 

Kitsy went to look at the books. 

They had pretty pictures in them. 

She forgot about the dinner party. 

At last she thought of her dolls. 

"My poor dolls will be very hungry,” 
said Little Girl Kitsy. 

154 





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155 

















































































She ran out to the back yard. 

There were all the dolls 
sitting on their chairs. 

They were very still. 

But some of the dinner was gone! 

Some one had taken bites 
from the bun. 

Some of the ham was gone. 

Some one had been eating 
the potatoes. 

The pink cake was gone. 

Only the yellow apple was left. 

And there were some crumbs 
on Betty Lou’s dress. 

"Dear me,” said Little Girl Kitsy. 

"Were you so hungry 

that you could not wait?” 

156 



The dolls did not answer. 

They only sat and smiled. 

But the little fat mouse 
behind the tree 
looked out at them. 

She was fatter than ever. 

"That was a good dinner,” 

said the little mouse to herself. 

"I hope they come to my yard again.” 

157 















Now You Tell Me 

Tell how Little Girl Kitsy 
made her bun. 

Why did she not eat it? 

Who did eat the currant bun? 

What did the Old Woman 
find in the sky? 

What did she do with it? 

What did the little voice say 
in the night? 

Where did the little star go? 

Where did Kitsy have 
her dinner party? 

Do you think the dolls 
ate her food? 

What did the little mouse think? 


158 






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